After Steve Jobs, I have been searching my heart and soul for what is going to be Apple, Inc.’s saving grace. When Steve Jobs passed on the DNA that is Apple, a piece of the company died when Steve did. Not an easy thing to admit because I was inducted into the Apple Cult early on in 1984.

1984 512K Fat Mac with External Disk Drive.

In 1984 I purchased a Fat Mac for 3,700.00 Dollars plus Tax in Los Angeles. Now fast forward to 2018 and look where Apple is now.

Apple can’t stand still, and it is trying not to be a casualty of its own success.

Apple has something big brewing. What is it? Apple is about to overtake Spotify as the top paid streaming service. There is a reason for this. The reason is Apple incredible relationship with its customers.

The streaming market is being fine-tuned. If you are a songwriter and artist, you are going to have to pay very close attention to what each of these streaming companies is doing.

Spotify is being as innovative as Apple in that the company is allowing artists to sign themselves to Spotify as a real artist giving them more control of their content.

Many companies offer the same product, but their pricing scheme is related to how they can accumulate the most amount of customers.

Take a deep breath investing a few moments in listening and watching what is happening at Napster. (Yeah, man, they are still around)! The company is now called Rhapsody / Napster. The new company adds 24,000 new streaming tracks every 24 hours. The company has their payout structure in place and are paying top dollar to the artists and companies.

Time to reflect on where the market is shifting. Let me know your thoughts. I’ll expand further on the challenges that face Apple and why but in the meantime, check out this reflective talk between Bill Patrizio, President & CEO, Rhapsody Int’l – Napster (USA) interviewer: Mark Mulligan, Managing Director & Analyst, MIDiA Research (UK)

The Difference Between Alpha and Beta Males

Alpha Males Are:

Confident – alpha males tend to think very highly of themselves. They aren’t always right or perfect, but they always believe in their own ability and themselves no matter what.

Not Embarrassed Easily – alpha males don’t worry too much about other people’s opinions. If they did they would never speak up, do what they want, or go against social norms.

Masculine – alpha males are men. They come in all shapes and sizes but have common traits: leaders, dominant personalities, comfortable around the opposite sex, etc.

Take What He Wants Attitude – alpha males are not jerks or rude but they believe they are entitled, this allows them to do things and request things an ordinary person would not.

Direct and Honest – alpha males are not afraid to speak their mind. If they need something, they will tell you. They don’t hide behind a lot of fluff when they are talking to you. They tell you things you might not want to hear.

Social – alpha males have a dynamic personality that allow them to connect with all types of people.

Take Chances – alpha males are risk takers (big or small). They aren’t afraid to fail because they know that success comes from taking chances.

Beta Males Are

Nice guys – beta males are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They help you when you need help, they are courteous and pleasant to be around.

May Question Their Ability – beta males lack the confidence alpha males have. There are times that beta males will second guess themselves or make excuses to not do something even though they are fully capable. They just don’t always realize their potential.

Worry About What Others Think – beta males are usually restricted in life because they care too much about what other people think. This includes family, friends and strangers. These external factors limit what a beta male does and the choices he makes in life.

Puts The Needs of Others First – this isn’t a bad thing, but beta males put the needs of others ahead of their own. They are very giving people and unselfish.

Secretive – beta males don’t always make their desires known to others. Beta males have secrets they keep to themselves including their career aspirations, dreams, and sexual desires. This is usually due to not wanting to be judged by others and may be due to lack of self-confidence.